The 2015 massacre in Zaria, which saw a brutal military assault on members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), commonly referred to as Shiites, has resurfaced in public discourse following the death of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in London after a lengthy illness.
Nigerian journalist, Saifullahi M. Kabir, took to Facebook to express his anguish over the tragedy, reflecting on the victims and holding Buhari’s administration responsible for what he termed the “mass murder” of innocent Shiite Muslims during the December 2015 incident.
In one of his emotional posts, Kabir named several young women he said were killed during the crackdown: “Fatima Ali Munjibir, Nusaiba Yakubu Zurmi, Nusaiba Shafiu Kazaure, Fatima Isa Waziri, and Khadija Ibrahim Dasuqi. These were not just students, but also devout religious figures. They were murdered under Buhari’s command in 2015,” he wrote.
He further claimed that the victims’ remains were never retrieved nor accorded proper Islamic burial rites. “None of the bodies were recovered. Some were burned alive, some cremated, and others dumped into mass graves at Mando Cemetery in Kaduna,” he alleged. Kabir then offered a searing prayer: “May Allah reward their families with patience and justice. May He curse Buhari and all who helped him, and give them the punishment promised to those who kill believers without cause. Ameen Ya Allah. #BuhariAllahYaIsa #ZariaMassacre #WeRemember.”
In another tribute, Kabir posted photographs of two of the victims—Khadija and Fatima—whom he said were the daughters of Malam Yakubu Okene. According to him, Buhari’s troops killed them, along with their father and elder brother, inside the residence of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
“The children were memorizing the Qur’an. Their mother told me how dedicated and respectful they were before Buhari’s regime took them from her,” he added.
Kabir continued with a call for divine justice: “May their spilled blood rise against Buhari and those who implemented this state terrorism.”
Kabir also recounted the ordeal of Hajiya Jummai Ahmad Karofi and her household, stating that her family suffered greatly during the 2015 assault. “Buhari’s forces killed five of her children, along with her husband, Engr. Yahaya Gilima. Hajiya Jummai still carries bullets in her body ten years later. Her eldest son, Engr. Ahmad AY, also lives with bullets lodged in him,” Kabir revealed.
He further narrated how Jummai’s sister, Mama Hassana Yakubu Muhammad, and her brother, Malam Mansur Karofi, were detained for years due to religious activities linked to Ashura during Buhari’s regime. “How can this family ever forgive Buhari?” he asked. “May Allah bring justice. May the martyrs’ deaths never go in vain.”
Kabir also remembered Alhaji Ibrahim Dutsinma, another victim, sharing a picture and writing, “May Allah grant Jannah to Alhaji Ibrahim Dutsinma, one of the thousands killed in the Zaria massacre. May their martyrdom be accepted.”
He condemned not only Buhari but also others he linked to the atrocity, saying, “We will never forgive their murderers—not Buhari, not his planner Abba Ahmed, not his wife Ummu Baneen, not his children like Pherteemer Ibrahim.”
A group photo of seven young men was also posted by Kabir. According to him, they were all slain during the same military operation in Zaria.
In another heartfelt tribute, Kabir honoured the memory of Sumayyah Isa Hasan, the daughter of Professor Isa Mshelgaru. He alleged that she was among the victims Buhari’s soldiers killed in December 2015. “Sumayyah was pious, hardworking, and obedient. Her parents always spoke highly of her. She once said the soldiers were expected to pull out by morning, but instead continued their operations,” he wrote.
Addressing Sumayyah’s mother, Ummah Jummai Ibrahim Musa, Kabir offered words of comfort. “Your daughter’s soul is now in a better place, among the righteous. We trust Allah will judge those who took the lives of innocent believers unjustly.”
Background: What Happened in Zaria in 2015
The events of December 2015 marked a dark chapter in Nigeria’s recent history. The Nigerian Army launched an aggressive operation against members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State. The group was led by Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
According to reports by international human rights organisations like Amnesty International, over 300 IMN members were killed, while many others vanished without a trace.
The military justified its action by accusing the group of obstructing the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff. However, the sheer scale and brutality of the response sparked global outrage, with calls for investigations and accountability.
Under Buhari’s administration, there was no official apology, and no high-ranking military officers were ever prosecuted for the incident. Most of the victims were buried in mass graves, and justice has remained elusive for the families affected.
Kabir’s emotional recollections reveal the enduring pain and anger felt by survivors and relatives of those killed. While some Nigerians remember Buhari for his disciplinarian style and tough stance on national security, others, like Kabir, see him as a leader who sanctioned violence and religious oppression.
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